Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust
The Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust is a private foundation based in St. Paul, Nebraska. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations in Nebraska, with listed recipients including schools, fire departments, a food pantry, and a hospital foundation.
Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust at a glance
In short: Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust gave $20K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Nebraska. 57% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $19,984
- -0.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,427
- -14.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $557,406
- -0.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (8 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust
- How to Apply
-
Contact Jeff Varney and submit a written application with appropriate supporting documentation. The filing lists no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Jeff Varney
Mailing address: PO Box 385, St Paul, NE 68873
Phone: (308) 754-4426
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Paul Ne Education Found ($4K). Together the top 10 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 66 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska. The trust’s 2024 filing states that grants are restricted to tax-exempt organizations located in Howard County, Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 14 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 29% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 48% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2025) to $39K (2022). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Paul Ne Education Found St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $3,500 |
| Care Team St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $2,600 |
| HC Ministerial Association St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $2,000 |
| Boelus Fire Department St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $1,500 |
| Dannebrog Fire Department St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $1,500 |
| Howard County Memorial Hosp Found St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $1,500 |
| Howard Greeley Food Pantry St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $1,500 |
| St Libory Fire Depatment St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $1,500 |
| Little Cats Youth Football St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $1,050 |
| St Paul Early Childhood St. Paul, NE | Program Funding | $854 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $557,406 | $23,728 | $27,323 | $19,984 | 14 | $23,549 | $18,424 | $27,473 |
| 2024 | $561,001 | $21,695 | $27,516 | $20,000 | 12 | $23,548 | $17,922 | $27,199 |
| 2023 | $566,822 | $14,197 | $40,963 | $33,574 | 15 | $37,173 | $21,550 | $31,584 |
| 2022 | $593,588 | $25,264 | $44,906 | $38,500 | 15 | $41,678 | $13,801 | $35,026 |
| 2021 | $613,230 | $15,318 | $29,514 | $24,000 | 10 | — | $12,188 | $31,653 |
| 2020 | $627,426 | $23,461 | $34,860 | $29,000 | 15 | — | $14,710 | $34,613 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust reported a distributable amount of $27K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust gave $19,984 through 14 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $480 to $3,500, with a median grant of $1,500. The largest listed grants were $3,500 to ST PAUL NE EDUCATION FOUND, $2,600 to CARE TEAM, and $2,000 to an individual recipient ASSOCIATION. Other listed recipients included BOELUS FIRE DEPARTMENT, DANNEBROG FIRE DEPARTMENT, HOWARD COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSP FOUND, HOWARD GREELEY FOOD PANTRY, ST LIBORY FIRE DEPATMENT, LITTLE CATS YOUTH FOOTBALL, ST PAUL EARLY CHILDHOOD, CENTURA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, and ST PAUL SCHOOLS.
The trust’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It instructs applicants to submit a written application with appropriate supporting documentation. Grants are restricted to organizations located in Howard County, Nebraska, that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Theda Vanhown as trustee.
Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust is led by Valerie Killinger, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Valerie Killinger
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jake Lawver
Trustee
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Marty Mrvicka
Trustee
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Theda Vanhown
Trustee
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Carol Schroeder
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Janet Elstermeier
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Steven Neal (2024) — Vice President
- Former: Chris Elstermeier (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Dan Scheer (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Theda Van Horn (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Barb Wroblewski (2021–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust
How much does Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust give each year?
Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust gave $20K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $20K across 12 grants.
What is Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust's typical grant size?
Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $1,427, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust that year got $2K on average.
Where does Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust give grants?
Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust gives mostly in Nebraska: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Paul, NE (14 grants).
Does Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Funding" (14 grants).
Who are Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust's largest grantees?
Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust's largest 2025 grantees include St Paul Ne Education Found ($3,500), Care Team ($2,600) and HC Ministerial Association ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust?
Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust reported $557K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $24K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $27K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
How do I apply for a grant from Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust?
Contact Jeff Varney and submit a written application with appropriate supporting documentation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust's EIN?
Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6177701. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Figures come from Fred J and Nora H Sonderup Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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